Water filter assembly

Abstract

A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a casing that is selectively mounted to a manifold. A filtering media is positioned within the casing for filtering a flow of water through the casing. The water filter assembly also includes features for hindering spilling of water during changing of the filtering media.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water filter assembly that defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the water filter assembly comprising:
 a casing that defines a chamber for receipt of water to be filtered, the casing also defining an opening at a top edge of the casing, the casing having a lip positioned at a top portion of the easing; 
 a removable filtering media disposed within the chamber of the casing for filtering a flow of water through the chamber of the casing, the opening of the casing sized for removing and inserting the filtering media within the chamber of the casing; 
 a pair of caps separate from the casing and positioned directly on the filtering media inside the casing at opposite axial ends of the filtering media, at least one of the caps having a projection that extends along the axial direction; 
 a manifold defining an outlet for directing unfiltered water into the chamber of the casing and an inlet for receiving filtered water from the chamber of the casing the casing selectively mounted to the manifold, the manifold also having an insert, the insert disposed within the chamber of the casing when the casing is mounted to the manifold; 
 at least one seal extending between an outer surface of the insert and an inner surface of the lip along the radial direction when the casing is mounted to the manifold, the at least one seal positioned below a top surface of the lip along the axial direction when the casing is mounted to the manifold; and 
 a pair of check valves, a first one of the check valves mounted to the manifold at the outlet of the manifold, a second one of the check valves mounted to the manifold at the inlet of the manifold, the first one of the check valves configured for regulating a flow of water through the outlet of the manifold by selectively adjusting between an open position and a closed position, the first one of the check valves selectively engaging the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection in order to adjust the first one of the check valves between the open position and the closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first one of the check valves contacts the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection in order maintain the first one of the check valves in the open position, the first one of the check valves shifting towards the closed position when the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection is moved away from the manifold along the axial direction, the first one of the check valves hindering the flow of water through the outlet of the manifold in the closed position. 
     
     
       3. The water filter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the caps having the projection includes a contact surface, the second one of the check valves contacting the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection in order maintain the second one of the check valves in the open position, the second one of the check valves shifting towards the closed position when the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection is moved away from the manifold along the axial direction, the second one of the check valves hindering the flow of water through the inlet of the manifold in the closed position. 
     
     
       4. The water filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection is spaced apart from the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection along the radial direction. 
     
     
       5. The water filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection is spaced apart from the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection along the axial direction. 
     
     
       6. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of O-rings. 
     
     
       7. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lip of the casing has an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface of the lip along the radial direction, the casing also having a screw thread mounted at the outer surface of the lip, the manifold having an inner surface spaced apart from the sealing surface of the manifold along the radial direction, the manifold also having a screw thread mounted at the inner surface of the manifold, the screw thread of the casing configured for engaging the screw thread of the manifold in order to mount the casing to the manifold. 
     
     
       8. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each cap of the caps has the projection that extends along the axial direction. 
     
     
       9. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold defines an entrance for receiving unfiltered water and an exit for directing filtered water out of the manifold, the manifold further comprising a bypass conduit that extends between the entrance of the manifold and the exit of the manifold and a bypass valve for selectively placing the entrance of the manifold in fluid communication with the exit of the manifold through the bypass conduit. 
     
     
       10. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the casing extends between the top portion and a bottom portion along the axial direction the casing defining a drain conduit at the bottom portion of the casing, the drain conduit being in fluid communication with the chamber of the casing in order to selectively direct water out of the chamber of the casing. 
     
     
       11. A water filter assembly that defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the water filter assembly comprising:
 a cylindrical casing that defines a chamber for receipt of water to be filtered, the casing extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the axial direction, the casing defining an opening at a top edge of the casing, the casing also having a lip positioned at the top portion of the easing; 
 a removable filtering medium disposed within the chamber of the casing for filtering a flow of water through the chamber of the casing, the filtering medium removable from the chamber of the casing through the opening of the casing; 
 a pair of caps separate from the casing and positioned directly on the filtering media inside the casing, the caps of the pair of caps being discrete from each other and positioned at opposite ends of the filtering medium, at least one of the caps having a projection that extends along the axial direction; 
 a manifold defining an outlet for directing unfiltered water into the chamber of the casing and an inlet for receiving filtered water from the chamber of the casing, the casing selectively mounted to the manifold, the manifold also having an insert that extends downwardly along the axial direction into the chamber of the casing when the casing is mounted to the manifold; 
 at least one seal extending between the insert and the lip along the radial direction when the casing is mounted to the manifold, the at least one seal positioned below a top surface of the lip along the axial direction when the casing is mounted to the manifold; and 
 a pair of check valves, a first one of the check valves mounted to the manifold at the outlet of the manifold, a second one of the check valves mounted to the manifold at the inlet of the manifold, the first one of the check valves configured for regulating a flow of water through the outlet of the manifold by selectively adjusting between an open position and a closed position, the first one of the check valves selectively contacting the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection in order to adjust the first one of the check valves between the open position and the closed position. 
 
     
     
       12. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of each check valve of the pair of check valves is positioned within the chamber of the casing when the casing is mounted to the manifold. 
     
     
       13. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the caps having the projection includes a contact surface, the second one of the check valves contacting the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection in order maintain the second one of the check valves in the open position, the second one of the check valves shifting towards the closed position when the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection is moved away from the manifold along the axial direction, the second one of the check valves hindering the flow of water through the inlet of the manifold in the closed position. 
     
     
       14. The water filter assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the projection of at least one of the caps having the projection is spaced apart from the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection along the radial direction. 
     
     
       15. The water filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the projection of at least one of the caps having the projections is spaced apart from the contact surface of at least one of the caps having the projection along the axial direction. 
     
     
       16. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of O-rings. 
     
     
       17. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lip of the casing has an outer surface positioned opposite an inner surface of the lip along the radial direction, the casing also having a screw thread mounted at the outer surface of the lip, the manifold having an inner surface spaced apart from the sealing surface of the manifold along the radial direction, the manifold also having a screw thread mounted at the inner surface of the manifold, the screw thread of the casing configured for engaging the screw thread of the manifold in order to mount the casing to the manifold. 
     
     
       18. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each cap of the caps has the projection that extends along the axial direction into the Chamber of the casing when the casing is mounted to the manifold. 
     
     
       19. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the manifold defines an entrance for receiving unfiltered water and an exit for directing filtered water out of the manifold, the manifold further comprising a bypass conduit that extends between the entrance of the manifold and the exit of the manifold and a bypass valve for selectively placing the entrance of the manifold in fluid communication with the exit of the manifold through the bypass conduit. 
     
     
       20. The water filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the casing defines a drain conduit at the bottom portion of the casing, the drain conduit being in fluid communication with the chamber of the casing in order to selectively direct water out of the chamber of the casing.